On June 9, 2025, a ceremony was held in the Kazaly district of Kyzylorda region, Republic of Kazakhstan, to unveil a commemorative stele dedicated to the archaeological research at the Jankent settlement. These excavations have been conducted since 2023 by the Turkic Academy in partnership with Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University. As part of the event, a protective structure was also inaugurated—an initiative of the Turkic Academy—installed over the excavation site to ensure the preservation of the archaeological monument.
Joint archaeological work at the Jankent site began in 2023, involving specialists from Uzbekistan (Y. Gulyamov Institute of Archaeology in Samarkand) and Kazakhstan (the Scientific Center for Archaeology and Ethnography at Korkyt Ata University and the Astana Branch of the Margulan Institute of Archaeology). The aim of the project was to study and preserve the Jankent archaeological site, as well as to promote the historical and cultural heritage of the Turkic peoples.
The official ceremony was attended by President of the Turkic Academy Shahin Mustafayev, Vice-President of the Academy Askhat Kessikbayev, Vice-Rector of Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University Mainur Buribayeva, Head of the Department of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan Riga Onayeva, Deputy Head of the Department of Culture, Archives and Documentation of the Kyzylorda Region Kuanysh Zhanuzakov, specialist from the Samarkand Institute of Archaeology Aisulu Iskanderova, as well as archaeologists, researchers, student interns from Kazakhstan involved in the excavations and representatives of the press and local community.
Speaking at the ceremony, President of the Turkic Academy Shahin Mustafayev emphasized the historical significance of Jankent, which served as the capital of the Syr Darya Oghuz state until the 10th century. Owing to its strategic location along the Silk Road, the city emerged as a vital crossroads connecting the Volga-Ural region with Mawarannahr and bridging the Khazar Khaganate with Khwarezm.
Medieval sources refer to Jankent under various names, all of which translate to "New City": Yangkikent in Old Turkic, al-Qaryat al-Haditha in Arabic, and Deh-i Naw in Persian. These names underscore the city's prominence in the historical landscape of the region.
Since 2023, excavations have been carried out in residential structures, at the entrance gates of the citadel, and within the city’s shahristan. The objective of the work was to systematize, classify and interpret materials uncovered at medieval urban-type settlements along the Lower Syr Darya. The findings provide valuable insight into the formation and development of the culture of the Syr Darya Oghuz Turks between the 7th and 10th centuries, significantly enriching current understanding of the ethnic processes in the Middle and Lower Syr Darya regions.
The archaeological findings attest to the distinctive and original culture of Jankent’s inhabitants. The remains of buildings, including residential and utility structures, offer a glimpse into the city's layout and infrastructure.
Over the course of three excavation seasons, archaeologists uncovered a wealth of remarkable historical artifacts reflecting the material culture of Jankent. Among the most notable finds are numerous examples of hand-molded ceramics—previously unknown in both form and function—bronze items and various types of ornamented ritual hearth stands shaped like stylized ram heads.
One of the most significant discoveries was a unique hoard of silver coins attributed to Oghuz minting, presumably dating to the 9th century. This is the first such find on the territory of Jankent, underscoring its important role as an urban center along the Silk Road.
Archaeological research is one of the key areas of scientific activity for the Turkic Academy. Fieldwork is currently ongoing in the Nomgon Valley of Mongolia, where a memorial complex from the era of the Turkic Khaganate is being studied. In 2024, the Academy also organized a scientific expedition to Kazakhstan’s Mangystau Region to investigate necropolises dating back to the Oghuz-Kipchak period.
